The Coney Island Grill has been an institution and city landmark since 1926. That's a long time to be the alpha dog, but Coney Island's Michigan-style chili dog is the coin of the realm, especially when eaten atop a brown vinyl stool at the counter with an impossibly thick chocolate shake at your elbow. The franks cost more than the nickel that owner Pete Barlas charged back in the day (well, and he added a 5-cent extra charge for anyone who ordered — sacrilege — ketchup on their chili dog), but son Hank and grandson Pete Barlas II haven't let prices get out of hand.